But when the older two are inside or outside playing making stuff, drawing and being creative they become a lot more independent and a lot more fun actually - when they are sat watching TV or playing on computer games they just turn into zombies, and I am sure every parent sees the same.
It’s difficult being a parent and you to need to have a switch off time every now and again but switch off doesn’t mean you can’t say to the kids ‘out you go and play’. I absolutely hate my kids watching American TV because they come back talking like they are from America.
- I remember when we were kids we were never in.
Yeah it was run home from school, have a bowl of cereal just to give you enough energy to back out and run around again.
- Away from the campaign you are best known as a rugby player so how are you enjoying retirement? And how would you sum up your career when you look back on it now?
I think retrospectively you always think that you could have done more tried a bit harder and when I was growing up I remember hearing this all the time ‘oh this is the best time of your life’ and ‘you don’t know how lucky you are’ and it’s not until you reach your mid thirties that you think ‘oh my god they were actually talking sense.’
Looking back I have got periods in my career that I have got huge amounts of pride in but I have also got periods in my career that I have a few regrets about.
That’s another thing that drive me nuts I hate seeing wasted potential when I see certain other rugby players at the minute that are wasting their potential I can’t stand it - same for my kids.
But you don’t know what your potential is unless you get out and try things and do different stuff - if you sit inside your house all the time you are going end up the rest of your life sat there anyway.
- Are you involved with the sport at the moment - I read that you do have some coaching badges?
I have got my coaching badges but I am not that interested in coaching adults just yet - but each summer I go to Sardinia to coach kids with Will Greenwood, Jason Robinson and Jason Leonard - but in terms of coaching adults in rugby clubs… no not yet.
- There is a big push to get kids into sport at the moment with obesity and the Olympics just around the corner so for anyone who wants to get into rugby what advice or tips would you give?
Just go down to your local club or ask someone at school you can go on the TRFU website, have a look at where your nearest club is and they will have a junior side and get down there.
The best thing about rugby is it’s like an extended family they look after each other and there member, whether you are a good rugby player or the worst, whether you are a big guy at 6ft 10 and weight 20 stone or whether you are a small guy like me who weighs 12 stone - there is something for everyone. It’s so inclusive that it not only helps your sporting life but also your personal life.
- You played for England yourself so with the world cup just around the corner how do you rate England’s chances after a good six nations?
Most people are going to say that England don’t have much of a chance, they may get to the semis but it’s difficult to see past New Zealand and South Africa, people said that last time and they were an inch away - if Mark Cueto had had smaller feet they would have won the World Cup.
I would say that England do have a chance, anything is possible, a bunch of guys who get in four walls and close the door and put their backs to the wall can always come out fighting.
I think this England side does have quality in it, they will have to be at the top of their game, but I think the weather could play into our hand also I think a few sides will right us off a bit and that could play into our hands.
- Martin Johnson is team manager so what do you think he has brought to the England squad?
He has brought the biggest eyebrow in professional sport - that is a living animal. He is massively passionate, he is very controlled, he has an element of niggle about him; he likes to get stuck in - and I think that that comes from his passion for the game.
When you see that your manager is as passionate as you then that can inspire you, he is an inspirational bloke.
- Finally what’s next for you?
Well four kids… I’m going to be working until I’m 101 I think. I’m just trying to enjoy life - I enjoy reading the Sunday papers and in the finance part every weekend there is a piece about what people think about money and people work hard to earn lots of money because they think it can change their lives; what can change your life is spending as much time as you can with your family and finding that balance.
At the minute in our family we have a lovely balance; I have enough time at home and enough time away and we can spend time together.
Whatever is next for me - whether it is a TV job or working in business - as long as it doesn’t affect that, or it only enhances that, then that’s what I’m hopefully going to do in the future.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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